Can I send food to France?
Yes, with conditions.
No meat or dairy from outside the EU. Fish up to 20 kg and other animal products such as honey up to 2 kg. Couriers refuse perishables, so send only sealed, commercially packed food.
For every Onvoyo box: Only sealed, shop-bought, shelf-stable food. Express couriers don't carry perishable food: nothing fresh, frozen, meat, dairy or produce.
More rules for France
Not allowed
- Meat, milk, and products made from them, sent from outside the EU to private individuals
Allowed with conditions
- Fish, honey, and other animal products from outside the EU
- Allowed in small amounts: fish and fishery products up to 20 kg, and other animal products such as honey up to 2 kg. Above that, a veterinary inspection at a border post is required.
Quantity limits
- Animal products from outside the EU
- No meat or dairy. Fish and fishery products up to 20 kg; other animal products, such as honey, up to 2 kg.
Before you ship to France
- Tax-free limit
- If you're sending from inside the EU, there is no customs clearance and nothing to pay. From outside the EU (including the UK), VAT is due from the first euro, and the €150 customs duty relief ended on July 1, 2026, so duty can now apply at any value. An occasional gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 (about $53), not counting shipping, is still free of duty and VAT. Online purchases up to €150 from sellers registered for the EU's IOSS scheme, or sent by post, pay a flat €3 duty for each type of item until July 1, 2028.
- Receiver ID
- Private receivers don't need a tax or customs number. Give the courier the receiver's full name, phone number, and email so it can arrange payment of any VAT or duty.
- Transit
- 1-3 business days within the EU; 2-5 from the UK or North America; 3-7 from Asia
Questions
Can I send food to France?
Yes, with conditions. No meat or dairy from outside the EU. Fish up to 20 kg and other animal products such as honey up to 2 kg. Couriers refuse perishables, so send only sealed, commercially packed food.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Recevoir un colis envoyé par un particulier (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative)
Taux de TVA dans les secteurs des arts et de la presse (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM)
Demander une autorisation pour une importation de médicaments (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Envoi de produits alimentaires et de végétaux (opens in a new tab) - 5.
Official Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty (codified version) (opens in a new tab) - 6.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
You want to know the applicable deductibles when transferring your main residence in France (opens in a new tab) - 7.
Ministère de la Culture
Comment soumettre une demande d'autorisation d'exportation ? (opens in a new tab) - 8.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Calculation of duties and taxes on purchases abroad (opens in a new tab) - 9.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Vous souhaitez connaître les franchises applicables lors de votre installation dans un DOM (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in France makes the final decision on every box.